Steering system for automobiles



June 11, 1940.

w. P. BERRY STEERING'S'YSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed June 26, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEYS June 11, 1940. I w. P. BERRY 2,203,810 s'rsznme sis'wM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed June 26, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZ ATTORNEYS June 11, 1940. w. P. BERRY STEERING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed June 26, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Jun 11, 1940. w. P. BERRY 2,203,810

I STEERING SYSTEM FOR-AUTOMOBILES. I

Filed June 26, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. VW/herr Pau/ Ber/y Patented June 11, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to steering mechanism for vehicles and particularly automobiles wherein is incorporated a pair of drive wheels and a pair of wheels that normally constitute means for 5 guiding the vehicle.

This invention has for a further aim the pro-- vision of means for rotatably mounting the driven wheels of an automobile; means for connecting the said driven wheels to the conventional steering gear of the front wheels, and the steering post of the automobile; and means, controllable by the operator for selectively rotating the said driven wheels about their axes in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

, It is the purpose of this invention to provide an unique steering power'transmission that serves as means for interconnecting the conventional steering post and steering wheel to structure operably joined to the vehicle wheels, which transmission comprises manually operable elements for selectively causing the driven wheels of the vehicle to rotate about their axes in either the same direction as the remaining wheels of the vehicle, as the steering wheel is turned, or in a direction opposite to the said direction of rotation of the remaining wheels.

Minorobjects of the invention including specific details of construction and manner of embodying the concepts of the invention in automobile steering mechanism will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an automobile chassis having steering mechanism made in accordance with the present invention.

50 Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the automobile frame and steering mechanism, shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view of one of the driven wheels of the automobile, showing the, manner of rotatably as mounting the same about a vertical axis.

Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view taken on line. IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the steering power transmission, taken on line V--V of the hereinafter Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the trans mission taken on line .VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an irregular section through the transmission taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on line IXIX of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the steering wheel made to embody a portion of the structure for selectively setting the transmission.

Fig. 11 is a detailed sectional view taken on line XI-XI of Fig. 12, lookingin the direction ofthe arrow.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged side elevational view of the steering wheel showing the parts associated therewith for controlling the transmission; and,

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalview taken on line XIIL-XIII of Fig. 10.

A steering gear ior'automobiles which fulfills the aforesaid objects, and thatis made as illustrated in the drawings, will permit the driver of the vehicle to turn in a limited space and to manipulate the wheels of the automobile so that it may be moved to and from small spaces with a minimum amount of eifort.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention has been shown combined with an automobile of conventional tvpe that comprises a frame It carried by a pair of front wheels l8, each pivotally mountedas at 20 for rotation about a vertical axis. Rear or driven wheels 22 mounted at the ends of axle 24, are likewise specially mounted for movement about a vertical axis.

The manner of so supporting wheels 22 is shown. in Figs. 3 and 4.

Axle 24 comprises a spindle 26 attached to the main body of axle 2! by a universal joint 28, housed within a spherical case 30, the sections 32 and 34 of which are pivotally joined by pins 36 in alignment with the vertical axis of universal joint 28. Section 32 of case is in two parts as shown in Fig. 4 so that said section 32 may adequately embrace the outer spherical surface of section 34. Y

' Conventional springs 38 interconnect frame It with axle housing 40 in the usual way.

Steering column 42, having a specially built steering wheel 44 at the upper end thereof, is manually manipulated to turn'wheels l8 and 22.

Front wheels I8 have the usual tie-rod 48 joined to wheels I8 through the medium of arms 48, one of which is attached to arm 50 connected to shaft 52 that is rotated about its longitudinal axis when wheel 44 is actuated by the driver. Alink' 54 serves as a medium of connection between the free end of arm 50 and the outer end of arm 48.

Rear wheels 22 are provided with a tie-rod 58 which interconnects sections 82 of cases 80 so that both of said sections will simultaneouslymove about their respective axes as steering force is applied to one of sections 82 through the medium ofbell-crank lever 58, link 80 and rod 82. This last mentioned rod extends forwardly to join .the steering power transmission 84 located near the base of steering column 42.

Transmission 84 carried by frame I8 has a housing 88 wherein is journalled shaft 52 and which is kept filled with lubricating oil that may be introduced through opening 88, normally closed byv plug 10. Shaft 52 extends through housing 88 and has a driving gear 12 splined or otherwise keyed thereon as at 14. Thus, whenever shaft 52 is rotated, driving gear 12 will move therewith.

A series of teeth 18 is formed on the inner face of gear 12, which areconstantly in mesh with pinion 18 carried by disk 80 mounted for free rotation upon shaft 52. Disk 80 has teeth 82 formed on the annular periphery thereof for engagement by jaws 84, which are supported for movement toward and from a released position, shown. in Fig. 7. Teeth 88 on jaws 84 engage teeth 82 of disk 80 as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

The adjacent ends of jaws 84 are pivotally mounted on an ear 88 integral with housing 88. The free ends of jaws 84 are pivotally secured to yoke 90 through the medium of screws or analogous means 92. Slots 94 permit proper freedom of movement when yoke 90 is actuated.

A driven gear 98 mounted, on shaft 52 for-rotation thereabout, has a series ofperipheral teeth 88 in engagement with teeth I of rack I02. This rack I02 is reciprocably mounted for rectilinear movement in a cavity I04 formed in housing 88. A series of teeth I08 are formed on the inner face of driven gear 98 and are, like teeth 18, constantly in mesh withpinion 18. A notch I08 formed in the annular edge of driven gear 98 receives block H0 which is coupled to yoke 90 by a specially formed head I I2. This head is T-shaped andthe free ends of the cross arms H4 are at-.

tached to one end. of springsl I8, the other ends of which are fastened to bracket H8 that is freely mounted on shaft 52 and formed to present an overhanging portion that is extended over driven gear 98, disk 80 and into proximity to the annular periphery of driving gear 12, as seen in Fig. 5. This overhanging portion of bracket H8 is secured to driving gear 12 through the medium of machine bolts I20.

Head H2 is pivotally secured to block IIO by pin I22. The upper end of head H2 extends through slot I24 provided in yoke 90. Rollers I28 are mounted upon head H2 for engagement with the inner surfaces of yoke 90.,

Bracket H8 is yieldably held in the position shown in Fig. 6 by counter-balancing springs I28, oneof which is on each side of shaft 52. One end of each spring I28 is fastened to the lower edge of bracket H8, while the other ends of said springs are secured to driven gear 98 through the use of bolts -I80. Block H0 has a laterally ex" tending ear I82 which overhangsthe radially projecting boss I84 integral with driven gear 88.

A locking bar I88 pivotally secured to bracket H8 lies between ear I82 and boss I84, and is urged into a vertical position between said ear I82 and the boss I84 by springs I88. There are two of these springs I88 positioned in a cavity I40 formed in the overhanging portion of bracket I I8; a spring I 88 on each side of member I42, which pivotally supports locking bar I 32.

Yoke 90 has a polygonal, hollow head I44 that fits into socket I48 of cap I48 carried on the outer face of housing 88. Stem I50 journalled-in cap I48 is attached to head I44 and the projected end of stem I50 passes between the bifurcated portion of arm I52'that is mounted on shaft I54.

A crank I58 carried by one end of shaft I54 receives one end of rod I58 that is reciprocably carried by collars I80 on steering column 42. A foot pedal I82 is slidably mounted on steering column 42 and is attached to rod I58 so that the operator may manipulate the rod through the use of feet as well as through the employment of' specially constructed parts on steering wheel 44. The rim of this steering wheel 44 has sections I84 therein that are rotatable about a shaft I88- Plates I88 at the ends of sections I84 provide adequate bearings to journal shafts I88 and to receive the inturned ends I of rods I12 that extend inwardly toward steering column 42 wherethe same are operably connected to lever I14 mounted for movement about the axis of pin I18.

Rollers I18 carried by lever I14'to one side of pin I18 engage the annular flange of the upper collar I80 to which rod I58 is secured. A'tube I80 is in communication with cavity I48 in cap I48 and is in communication with cavity I04 wherein rack I02 reciprocates. Ports I 82 formed in hous-- ing 88 and I84 formed in head I44 cooperate with tube I80 in maintaining an equalized oil supply around all of the parts of transmission 84.

Operation When the parts of the steering mechanism are set as above described and illustrated in the drawings, a movement of steering wheel 44 which transmits rotary motion to shaft 52, will result in moving wheels I8 about the axes thereof in one direction, and the movement of wheels 22 will be about their axes in the same direction. As anexample, whensteering wheel 44 is moved clockwise, wheels I8 will move toward the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1, from the position shown in full lines thereof. Wheels 22 will simul-. taneously move toward the position shown in dot-. ted lines from the position shown in full lines of- Fig. 1, and the parts-contributing to such' a shift,-

ing of wheels I8 and 22 respectively, will be actuated' by the rotation of shaft 52. Such turning of steering wheel 44 will move arm 50 so that link 54 will draw arms 48 about the axes of rotation Obviously, tie-rod 48 will carry the force from the lefthand arm to the one associated with the wheel on the right. Movement of rear wheels 22 is caused'by forcing rack I02 in the direction bell-crank lever 58 will move about its pivotal connection I88, and link 80 will then be forced in the direction of the arrow, shown in Fig. 3 so as to turn section 32 of case 30. Associated wheel 22 willtherefore, be moved toward the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1.

When it is desirable to cause rearwheels 22 to be turned about their axes in the opposite direction as the movement of wheels I8, the driver rotates section I64 of steering wheel 44 a sufficient amount to turn lever I" about pin. I16 and thereby move collar I60 upward toward steering wheel 44. Such movement will drawrod I58 to a position where shaft I54 is rotated a sufficient amount to lift stem I58 to a point where yoke 90 will draw the teeth 86 of jaws 84 into engagement with teeth 82 of disk 80. Disk 88, therefore, is locked against movement about shaft 52. Simultaneously, block I I is lifted from notch I08 because head H2 is lifted by yoke 98 as soon as block III) is lifted from notch I88. Locking bar I36 is forced between gear I 32 and boss I34 to hold driven gear 96 and block IIIl out of engagement. Springs I38 perform the function of moving locking bar I32 to the vertical position between the parts just mentioned;

After yoke 90 has been lifted by the driver through the manipulation of sections I64 and through the operation ofthe parts as just set down, a movement of steering wheel 44 in a clockwise direction, for example, will turn wheels I8 toward the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. l in precisely the same manner as above set forth. The rear wheels 22, however, will move toward the position shown in the dot and dash lines, from the full line position, or about their axes in a direction opposite the direction of travel of front wheels I8.

Such movement of wheels 22 will positively occur because when driving gear I2 is rotated by shaft 52, pinion I8 will move driven gear 96 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of shaft 52. This because disk 80 which supports pinion I3, cannot move about the axis of shaft 52 in view of jaws 84 and their holding action. With block IIII removed from the notch I08 of driven gear 96, pinion 18 will rotate driven gear 96 so as to draw rack I82 in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6, and therefore wheels 22 will be moved about the axes of pins 36 as just described.

As driven gear 96 is moved, locking bar I36 will no longer be between ear I32 and boss I34, and when the wheels, are again brought into alignment, locking bar I36 will be inclined as shown in ,Fig. 6. Manifestly, sections I64 must be returned to their normal position before it is again possible to normally operate the steering mechanism so that wheels I8 and 22 of the front direction.

.having physical characteristics other than'that illustrated in the drawings, it is desired to be limited only by the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: I

1. In an automobile having a pair of guide wheels and a pair of driven-wheels, means for mounting each of said wheels respectively for movement about a vertical axis, and a steering wheel having a segmental rim, certain of which segments are rotatable about their respective axes, the combinationof structure, operable by manual manipulation of said steering wheel for turning all of said wheels about the axes thereof, said structure comprising a steering power transmission including a pair of gears;.a shaft supporting said gears for rotation, and a pinion in mesh with both gears of said pair; structure joining said transmission with each of said wheels; and means connecting the transmission to the steering wheel, said steering powertransmission adapted to normally cause the wheels of one pair to turn about their axes in directions the same as the direction of rotationof the wheels of the other pair, said transmission having manually settable parts including a shiftable member for selectively interlocking said gears for simultaneous or individual rotation for selec tively causing the wheels of one of said pairs to reverse their direction of travel from said normal; and elements interconnecting the shiftable member and the rotatable segments of the steering wheel.

2. In an automobile having two pairs of wheels, means for mounting each of said wheels respectively for movement about a vertical axis, a steering wheel, and a steering column, the combination of a transmission comprising a shaft rotatable by the steering column; a driving gear secured to the shaft; a driven gear loosely mounted on said shaft; a pinion in mesh with the driving gear and said driven gear; an arm attached to the shaft for movement therewith; structure join-' ing said arm and the wheels of one of said pairs; a rack operable by one of the gears; and structure joining said rack and the wheels of the other of said pairs of wheels.

3. In an automobile having two pairs of wheels, means for mounting each of said wheels respectively for movement about a vertical axis, a steering wheel, and a steering column, the combina tion of a transmission comprising a shaft rotatable by the steering column; a driving gearsecured to the shaft; a driven gear loosely mounted on said shaft; a pinion in mesh with the driving gear and said driven gear; an arm attached to the shaft for movement therewith; structure joining said arm and the wheels of one of said pairs; a rack operable by one of the gears; and structure joining said rack and the wheels of the other of said pairs of wheels; and means for interlocking said gears to cause the same to simultaneously rotate about the axis of said shaft when the same is rotated by the steering column.

4. In an automobile having two pairs of wheels, means for mounting each of said wheels respectively for movement about a vertical axis, a steering wheel, and a steering column, the combination of a transmission comprising a shaft rotatable by the steering column; a driving gear secured to the shaft; a driven gear loosely mounted on said shaft; a pinion in mesh with the driving gear and said driven gear; an arm attached to the shaft for movement therewith; structure joining said arm and the wheels of one of said pairs; a rack operable by the driven of the other of said pairs of wheels; and means for interlocking said gears to cause the same to simultaneously rotate about the axis of said shaft when the same is rotated by the steering 6 gear; structure joining said rack and the wheels post, said interlocking means having structure operable from a point on the steering wheel for selectively releasing the interlocking means to cause the pinion to move the driven gear in a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation of the driving gear whereby to reverse the direction of rotation of the said other pair of wheels about their axes from that direction travelled when the interlocking means is in the operative position.

5. In an automobile having two pairs of wheels;

I secured to the shaft; a driven gear loosely mounted on said shaft; a pinion in mesh with the driving gear and said driven, gear; an arm attached to the shaft for movement therewith; structure joining said arm and the wheels of one of said pairs; a rack operable by the driven gear;

structure joining said rack and the wheels of the other of said pairs of wheels; and means for interlocking said gears to cause the same to simultaneously rotate about the axis of said shaft when the same is rotated by the steering post, said interlocking means having structure operable from a point on the steering wheel for selectively releasing the interlocking means to cause the pinion to move the driven gear in a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation of the driving gear whereby to reverse the direction of rotation of the said other pair of wheels about their axes from that direction travelled when the interlocking means is in the operative position, said interlocking means including a disc-carrying said pinion, said interlocking means having elements for securing the pinion against such rotation about the axis of the shaft when the interlocking means is moved to the inoperative position.

' WILBERT PAUL BERRY. 

